That Makes Total Sense!

As a therapist and pastor, working with and ministering to women from all over the globe for years, Dieula Previlon understands trauma and the effects it can have on women and their communities. She also understands how when women begin to heal from trauma, it has a huge impact on the people around them as … Continue reading Episode 259 – Dieula Previlon

One of my absolute favorite things about studying in seminary has been the exposure to new and different theological perspectives! As members of the Body of Christ, we are truly all built in unique ways, having had different personal experiences that teach us about God, God’s world, and our place in it. Khristi Adams brings … Continue reading Episode 258 – Khristi Lauren Adams

Producer’s Pick! As some of you may know, the Houston area was hit hard this past week by a hurricane. The category 1 storm, Beryl, wreaked havoc on the infrastructure here, leaving more than 2 million homes and places of business without power. We were among those affected, having lost power for almost 6 days … Continue reading Episode 257 – Michael Wear (re-release!)

This is the very first time in the history of That Makes Total Sense! where a guest has played live music as a part of the conversation and I am here for it! Dr. Mark Glanville, pastor, author, and scholar, is also a professional jazz pianist and he can’t help but see how an exploration … Continue reading Episode 256 – Mark Glanville

With the 4th of July coming up this week, I wanted to share this conversation with you again. It is good to celebrate our country and it is also good to critique it. In this episode, Jemar and I spoke with each other literally less than a week after the insurrection on the Capitol on … Continue reading Episode 255 – Jemar Tisby (re-release!)

Growing up inside American evangelicalism, I can see now that there was definitely a taste of Christian nationalism thrown into the cultural mix (though I certainly couldn’t name it at the time). If you grew up culturally Chrisitan in the U.S., the same is probably true for you, too. What Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood … Continue reading Episode 254 – Brian Kaylor

There is a lot of talk these days about the hurts and abuses taking place inside of churches. Unfortunately, that is true because such instances are not uncommon. Not only does it seem like every week a new story breaks of pastor or other Christian leader failing in his (usually these awful stories feature men) … Continue reading Episode 253 – Jenai Auman

As soon as I saw Bekah McNeel had a new book coming out, I was lining up to talk with her (and I didn’t even know the subject, lol!). When I learned it was about suffering and our response to it, I was certain this was a conversation I’d want to have (that’s mostly because, … Continue reading Episode 252 – Bekah McNeel

Anna Broadway is an author who has literally traveled around the world to bring her newest book to us! And, oh yeah, she’s a single Christian. In Solo Planet, which was the basis for this conversation, Anna explores what it’s like to be single in Christian communities all over the globe. In addition to sharing … Continue reading Ep. 251 – Anna Broadway

Any time I get to talk with Dr. Brenda, I consider it to be a good day (and this recording day was a good day!). We chatted about her newest book, Empowered to Repair, which takes its themes from the story surrounding Ezra and Nehemiah (don’t worry if it’s been a minute since you’ve read … Continue reading Ep. 250 – Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil

The subject matter of Scott Coley’s new book might be familiar to many of us, but the way in which he presents it was new for me! Scott is a philosopher and professor, so he comes at many of the questions (and problems) we see within the religious right, especially in the United States, from … Continue reading Episode 249 – Scott Coley

Talking with Courtney Ellis about, of all things, grief and birds was so wonderfully rich! Before I read her newest book, Looking Up, I had no idea how beautiful vultures could be, for example, and how God’s plans for creation, life and death included, could reveal so much about God’s character and our relationships to … Continue reading Episode 248 – Courtney Ellis

It is an absolute joy to share space with Ashlee Eiland! She was brave enough to come on the podcast during my first year and gracious enough to join me again. This time our conversation centered around her newest book, Say Good. We all know we’re navigating (often, whether we like it or not) difficult … Continue reading Episode 247 – Ashlee Eiland

April marks genocide awareness month, bringing attention to all the atrocities the world has witnessed in the past and offering a collective never again to any present or future threats. This April also marks 30 years since the Rwandan genocide, which began in April of 1994 where one million Tutsi people lost their lives at … Continue reading Episode 246 – Henriette Mutegwaraba

What a pleasure to have the chance to talk with Jenny McGee, the founder of Starfish Project! A few pieces from the jewelry collection at Starfish Project have found their way into my personal collection over the years (okay, I specifically picked them out and asked for them for Christmases, birthdays, etc.) and ever since … Continue reading Episode 245 – Jenny McGee

This conversation with Pastor Trey Ferguson easily and quickly became one of my favorites. Not did our time together feel life-giving, akin to having a cup (or many cups) of coffee with a dear friend, but his theological explorations were encouraging and, in some instances, challenging. Trey’s new book, Theologizin’ Bigger is not your typical … Continue reading Episode 244 &#8211...

It’s not very often that I ask my kids to preview a book I receive for the podcast, but it’s also not very often that I am preparing to interview the authors of a children’s book (including a teenage co-author)! Zion Learns to See by Zion Lester and her father Terence covers the difficult topic … Continue reading Episode 243 – Zion Lester & Terence Lester

A short reflection on the day after Easter…and doubt. Mentioned in this episode: Matthew 28 You might also enjoy: Ep. 191 with Alexis Busetti Ep. 150 with Jason Porterfield Ep. 140 with Alexis Busetti

Dr. Dwight Radcliff is the academic dean for the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies at Fuller Seminary (and one of my favorite professors!). In the spring of 2022, I took his class on the Theology of Hip Hop Culture and it was life-altering (I don’t say that lightly!). As Christians, not just those … Continue reading Episode 241 – Dwight Radcliff (re-release!)

Okay. I hope you have *half* as much fun listening to this episode as Malcolm and I had recording it! We went in with no notes, no background reading material, and (almost) no filters. Malcolm first came on the podcast in 2020 and we talked about his dissertation work on the history of lynching in … Continue reading Episode 240 – Malcolm Foley

Michael Wear is one of the voices I’ve been listening to, regarding politics and the Christian faith, for years now. I first heard him on a podcast (linked below) where he and his friend, Justin Giboney, were speaking about politics in ways that A. resonated deeply with me and B. I hadn’t heard many, if … Continue reading Episode 239 – Michael Wear

When you think about your community or the neighborhoods around you, how many church buildings do you think you pass by on a daily basis? What takes place in those buildings, both on Sundays and throughout the week? And how do those spaces serve the people in close proximity? These are questions that Mark Elsdon … Continue reading Ep. 238 – Mark Elsdon

It’s hard to describe how I felt reading Norman Wirzba‘s book, This Sacred Life. He offers a thick theological insight on how we live in the world and some opportunities for growing into how we could not only shape the world around us, but be shaped by it. As people, sometimes it’s easy to believe … Continue reading Ep. 237 – Norman Wirzba

David Fitch is a professor at Northern Seminary and the author of several books, the latest of which is on a topic I dare say most Christians have pondered, especially in the last few years…power. In Reckoning with Power David presents a brief history of how we have come to view power, especially in the … Continue reading Ep. 236 – David Fitch

This conversation with Adam Gustine (and his book!) had me thinking about all kinds of things related to justice and to church. As believers in Jesus and part of the community called the Church, many of us are convinced that means embodying aspects of justice in some way, shape, or form, but what does that … Continue reading Ep. 235 – Adam Gustine